Emergency release for window regulators



R. H. DEAN ET AL EMERGENCY RELEASE FOR WINDOW REGULATORS May 30, 1944.

Filed Jan. 2l. 1941 Patented May 30, 1944 EMERGENCY RELEASE FOB WINDOW l REGULATORS Roy H. Dean and Floyd A. Cooley, Detroit, 'and Harold L. Kegler, Monroe, Mich., assigno'rs to' lTei'nstedt Manufacturing Company, Detroit,. Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application January 21, 1941, Serial No. 325,218, 3 Claims. (Cl. 268-125) This invention relates to window regulators and particularly power operated window regulators. One of the objections of a power operated window regulator is that, if the power fails or one gets into an accident, it cripples the mechanism and the window is locked and the window cannot be moved. It may be necessary, in case of an accident, to open the window as it is very dimcult to knock out a Window today because most of them are constructed of shatter-proof glass.

, It is the object of the present invention to aord an emergency release for the clutch so that one can get the window down in a pinch.

In the drawing: l

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the clutch and the adjoining parts.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are sections on the corresponding section lines of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail of one end of the load arm of the regulator.

It would, of course, be possible to use this apparatus withv a hand operated window regulator but no particular value, in this connection, is seen for it, as it will only be of value in case, for some reason or other, the hand regulator `jammed which seldom happens. used with a power operated window regulator, such as one operated by a vacuum cylinder, a hydraulic or a fluid pressure cylinder, or even electrically. 'I'hese mechanisms are not shown.

Suice it to show a rod I which may be operated by any form of motor or, as stated, ii; even could be operated by hand. The power arm of the regulator is designated 2, the load arm 3 and they are connected to rotate together and are supported on the pivot pin 4. The power arm has a clutch housing 5 with a pair of wedging Ordinarily, it will bel blocks t with the two rolling members 1 which f may be either rollers or balls normally pressed into wedging position by means of coil springs 8. These rollers contact with the wedging blocks and also with the segmental surface 9 of the fixed member IIJ. The segmental surface 9 is a true arc with its center at the center about which the lifting arms turn. If the load of the window tries to rotate the mechanism, the wedging block 5 will jamb with the right hand roller 1. If the window tries to rise by jumping, due to the jo1ting of the car, the left hand wedging block I will jamb with its roller 1, thus locking the window.

If eiort comes from the rod I in either direction, the rod will swing lever II which will tilt lever I2 which fulcrums on the corners I3 of the wedging blocks. This will release' one or the other roll, for instance, if the rod I is pulled to the ien, this tends to iower'the Awindow. The

left hand movement or th'e'rod I is converted into a. right hand movement.-'of the end of the lever II and the right hand movement of lever II is converted into a lei't hand movement of the end of lever I2.` Consequently, the left hand roller 111s released and-the window regulator arm 2 may be pulled to the left.

The connection for the two arms to rotate together is a releasable one. Load arm 3 is provided with a segment I 4 extending to the other side of the pivot. The segment is provided with a segmental slot I5. The power arm has a portion 2a extending beyond lthe pivot and this carries a pin I6. This pin has two diameters, a large diameter I 1 and smaller diameter I8. The larger diameter, ordinarily, rests in the end of the segmental slot which has an enlarged recess 30. A

bowed spring IS, ordinarily, keeps the large diameter in this-enlarged slot (as shown in Fig. 2). Push button 20 carried on jthe end of lever 2| which is pivoted at 22 can' be pressed to force pin I6 to the left, I8 of pin i6 will register with slot I5 and, consequently, pin I6 is now free to travel along slot I5. The lever 2| on which button 20 is carried overlies the pin I6 at any point in its travel (see Fig. 1).` Consequently, when button 20 is pressed, load arm 3 can swing independently of power arm 2-swing far enough to completely lower the window. The windowwill either drop by gravity or it may be aided in its descent; by placing the hands against the window and pulling downwardly. The two arms Awill be again keyed together when the power arm is moved relatively to the load arm to again bring the pin into registry with the enlarged slot, whereupon, thespring I9 will snap the pin to the rightand the large diameter of the pin will engage in the enlargement 30 of the slot and the two arms are keyed together.

What we claim is:

1. In a window regulator and particularly a power operated regulator, the combination of a window regulator mechanism. including the parts at the load end at the power end of the mechanism, a clutch operating to release in connection with the operation of the power parts of the regulator mechanism and locking against movement when the eiiort originates in the window and a releasable connection for tying thefpower parts to the load parts to permit movement of the window in an emergency although the clutch is locked, the said releasable connection comprising a slot with an whereupon the small diameter of the mechanism and the parts' member which can be enlarged opening at one end and a two diameter pin which normally keys the two sets of members together by engaging in the enlarged end of the slot and means by which the twodiameter pin may be pressed to release the large diameter from the emerged slot to permit relative movement between the two sets of parts.

2. 1n a window regulator and particularly one 0L the power operated type, the combination of a load arm, a power arm. the two pivoted on the samelaxis but having a connection between each other which can be released and a clutch for normally locking rthe power arm and load arm against effort originating in the load arm, the said releasable connection comprising a segmental slot with an enlarged end on one of the members and a two diameter pin on the other pressed from engagement with the larger diameter recess at the end of the slot to permit relative movement between the 20 two arms and the dropping of the window.

3. In a window regulator and particularly one of the power operated type, the combination of a load arm, a power arm, the two pivoted on the same axis but having a connection between each other which can be released and a clutch for normally locking the power arm and load arm against effort originating in the load arm, the said releasable connection comprising a segmental slot with an enlarged end on one of the members. a, two diameter pin on the other member which can be pressed from engagement with the larger diameter recess at the end of the slot to permitl relative movement between the two arms and the dropping oi' the window, and a lever and button movably supportable through an opening in the door panel and said lever adapted to press the said pin to releasing position when the regulator arms are in any position.

ROY H. DEAN.

FLOYD A. COOLEY. HAR/OLD L. MGLER. 

